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University of New Mexico Press

Cricket in the Web: The 1949 Unsolved Murder that Unraveled Politics in New Mexico

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Ovida "Cricket" Coogler was last seen alive entering a mysterious car driven by an unknown man in downtown Las Cruces, New Mexico, around 3:00 on the morning of March 31, 1949. Seventeen days later, her body was found in a hastily dug grave near Mesquite, New Mexico. The discovery of the eighteen- year-old waitress's body launched a series of court inquiries and trials that would reshape the direction of New Mexico politics, expose political corruption, and spawn generations of rumors that have polarized opinions of what happened to Coogler that windy March morning.Containing elements of mystery, conflict, power, fear, sex, and politics, the Coogler case has outlasted the brief amount of attention that most local unsolved murders receive. In this exhaustively researched study of the murder and its aftermath, Paula Moore provides the first objective account to examine the infamous murder and the events that unfolded in its wake. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of New Mexico Press (March 16, 2009)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 215 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0826343422


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 20


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.7 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 9.25 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #759,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #3,104 in Murder & Mayhem True Accounts #11,784 in U.S. State & Local History #26,395 in Politics & Government (Books)


#3,104 in Murder & Mayhem True Accounts:


#11,784 in U.S. State & Local History:


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • NEW MEXICO'S "BLACK DAHLIA"
"Cricket" In The Web", by Paula Moore is a tale of murder, corruption, and tragedy. The story relates to high-profile murder case that occurred in 1949 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The victim, Ovida "Cricket" Coogler ultimately became as famous (or infamous); to New Mexico History as the "Frohm" murder case of Sierra Blanca, Texas (1938?), or more specifically, California's "Black Dahlia Murder" of 1947. Ms. Coogler ("Cricket") appeared to have much of the same "free-spirited" persona as that of Elizabeth Short (Black Dahlia). Caught in a tragic web of political and criminal strands, she quickly became a "plaything" for the toxic world of illegal gambling, white-collar crime, and political corruption. Obviously, she placed her self in a precarious position that held too many secrets...dangerous secrets. The author indicates that Dona Ana County (encompassing Las Cruces) in 1949 had an amazing record of violent death every month. However, she does not elaborate to the gender of other victims, and if, "Cricket" was "E-Pluribus Unum" (One of many). In my opinion, Las Cruces (per capita), still has a very high violent crime rate. The 1949 murder made national news. The investigative net was cast upon the dark waters of a corrupted sea and upon it's return snared no less than 16 "persons of interest" including the Sheriff, Sheriff deputies, State Police Officials, and high ranking Politico's from Santa Fe. One of the most interesting subjects who eventually went to trial for the murder (but was acquitted), was the professional football player, Jerry Nuzum of the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, any investigation run by "tarnished badges" and backed by Draconian politicians with illicit funding simply makes for poor results. It appears that poor "Cricket" was somewhat of a "sacrificial-lamb" that subsequently gave favor for the unraveling of corrupt politics and vice crimes, but unfortunately, did little to vindicate her own horrible death. Paula Moore has done a superb job of capsulizing the events and evidence in this extremely complex case. New Mexico folk are notorious for "not talking" as Ms. Moore so perceptively indicates in her book. I have lived in the El Paso, Las Cruces area all my life and even familiar with many of the places listed in her book. However, I must admit that I had never heard of this gargantuan case until I ordered the book! Ms. Moore's descriptive writing will keep you turning pages one after another until... you wonder what happened to the rest. A great job of investigative journalism on a cold (?) case! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2008 by Joseph R. Calamia
    • Scary reading
Book provides well researched information that state and national politicians and law enforcement officials were likely involved in the murder of a young girl. Those not directly involved probably knew what happened and chose to keep the information secret. It is true that knowing the Las Cruces, New Mexico area probably enhances one's interest in this book. However, the author provides maps and timelines and separate information on those involved which will make the book understandable to those who are true crime fans and lack knowledge of the area. The information about corruption in New Mexico in the late 1940's and 1950's is horrifying but I guess only different in details from what we have discovered has gone on in our country in more recent times. Highly recommended. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2008 by Carol Sandoval
    • Cricket in the Web
Good read for this area (New Mexico)
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2017 by Joe M
    • The Cricket Enigma
This book was reviewed at a book club meeting I attended. I was stunned that I recognized the names of so many players in the story and felt I had to read it. Other than the obvious, Joe Montoya, Dennis Chavez, and Ed Metchem, I don't know why I recognized so many other names, like Happy Apodoca and Tuffy Tafoya. I was a very little girl living in Albuquerque when the event took place. I found the book to be very interesting, but very speculative. As I read, I questioned if an actual picture was being made of Cricket and her family. Afterall, she was allowed to [quit school?] go to work, get drunk regularly and have sexual encounters with men from the time she was 14. I didn't see how the case "unraveled politics" in New Mexico. The book says that the Democrats in power made frequent, very long drives from Santa Fe to "party" in Las Cruces. There probably was illegal gambling going on there at the time, but I would guess elsewhere in the state as well. When I was an early teen (and on), my parents became very active in politics and the Democratic Party. I could not imagine that, although some of those politicans in 1949 may have gone to bed with Cricket, what "secrets" they may have shared with her that would lead to her murder. My parents are now 92 and 93 years old. I asked if they remembered this case. My mother did because she said that was all that was in papers at the time. She also said that she and my father went to Clovis High School with Jerry Nuzum and remembered how he was accused. At the time of the incident, my father drove a Trailways bus and often had runs to Las Cruces and El Paso. He said he didn't know of any illegal gambling, but said he did know Cricket Coogler because he ate lunch in the cafe where she worked. Other than saying she was a very good waitress, he had nothing good to say about her. In fact, a look of disgust crossed his face when I mentioned her name. He said she was a very foul mouthed, promiscuious girl and not very smart. He said he doubted she would know what to do with any "dirt" she had on any politician. He also said she was quite glorified in the papers. I do think the book is certainly worth reading. I've come up with my own speculation about what happened. I think other people would enjoy doing the same. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2012 by Kaye Jordan
    • History of a local area with a lot of history
Loved this book. Gave a lot of perspective on life and politics in Las Cruces, New Mexico. But poor Cricket. Used, thrown away when "someone" thought she knew too much, and forgotten.
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2021 by Melanie Olivas
    • Holds Your Attention
I was born in Las Cruces in 1951 and remember several of the people and places in the book. It's a part of History that I knew nothing about, but knew some of the underlying threads of corruption in the area. Fascinating read and I really liked the summaries of events.
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2015 by Lori
    • great book
very interesting story, I either new or heard about some of the people in the book Las Cruces is 45 miles from El Paso and it is very exact on streets names. too bad somebody borrowed it and I have not seen it since.
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2014 by MARIO E LOPEZ

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